According to Times of India, in a written reply presented in the Lok Sabha, the minister said, “The coverage under the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme has been revised from 2022-23 and made applicable for classes 9 and 10 as the Right to Education The (RTE) Act-2009 makes elementary education (classes 1 to 8) free and compulsory for every child. This amendment has also been done to harmonize the scheme with similar scholarship schemes implemented by other ministries.
He said that it is observed that the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) scheme of the UGC and CSIR is open to all categories of students. In addition, students from minority communities are also covered under the National Fellowship Schemes for Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the National Fellowship Schemes for Scheduled Tribes implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
He said, “Since the MANF scheme overlaps with various fellowship schemes for higher education, the government has decided to discontinue it from 2022-23.”
Responding to another question whether the government proposes to withdraw education loan subsidy given to minority students to study abroad, Irani said, “It is also found that the beneficiaries under ‘Padho Pardes Scheme’ The interest subsidy benefit was limited and also overlapped with similar schemes run by other ministries, which are also applicable to eligible students from minority communities. In view of overlap, limited benefits and ease of getting education loan at low interest rate, it has been decided to discontinue Padho Pardesh scheme from 2022-23.
Under the ‘Padho Pardes Interest Subsidy Scheme’, which was closed last month, students from minority communities were given interest subsidy on loans taken for studies abroad. Started in 2006, this scheme was part of the then Prime Minister’s fifteen-point program for the welfare of minorities.
Government openly demonstrating its anti-minority policy: Chidambaram
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Saturday targeted the Center over the decision to cancel the Maulana Azad National Fellowship. He alleged that the government is openly demonstrating its anti-minority policy.
In a series of tweets, Chidambaram said, “The government’s excuse for canceling the Maulana Azad National Fellowship for minority students and the subsidy given on education loans for studying abroad is completely irrational and arbitrary.”
The former Union finance minister asked whether this was the only fellowship and subsidy for minority students, which was similar to other schemes, despite admitting that there were “several schemes already in place”.
The Government’s excuse for scrapping the Maulana Azad National Fellowship and the subsidy for education loans to study abroad to minority students is grossly irrational and arbitrary.
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) February 4, 2023
Chidambaram said, ‘MNREGA is like PM-Kisan. In the case of old workers, old age pension is like MNREGA. There are dozens of such schemes. He alleged that the government is working more quickly to make the life of minority students more difficult.
The Congress leader tweeted, ‘The government is openly demonstrating its anti-minority policy, as if it is a matter of respect. Embarrassing.’
(With inputs from news agency Bhasha)
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